Great weather and some fine scores across the county

GOLF ROUND UP

All eyes are on the action at the K Club and the Irish Open this week. But there's plenty happening on the golf courses of Donegal too.

The fine weather last week ensured that all our county's golf clubs were busy - and it's notable too that there are plenty of visitors to Donegal taking on the challenge of our courses.

Here's a round-up of what's been happening over the past week.

LETTERKENNY ladies

In brilliant sunshine, many ladies took to the course on Tuesday, 10th May in the McCullagh Jewellers Open 18-hole competition.

Starting with the 2's the following ladies were successful: Cynthia Furey, Catherine Ryan, B Chaughan( City of Derry). The front nine was won by Catherine Ryan with a great 22 pts. The back nine by Elaine Russell with 19 pts.

The overall winner was none other than our very popular Captain, Jackie Ireland with a super 39 pts. Runner-up was Celine Bradley with 38pts. City of Derry's B. Chaughan came in third with 37pts. Many congratulations to all the winners, well done ladies.

Many thanks for the ongoing and very generous sponsorship to McCullagh Jewellers .

The 13-hole competition played on Thursday, 12th May was won by Marian Keating with 27pts. The runner-up was Joan Murphy with 23 pts. Congratulations to both ladies.

On Friday 13th(ominously) the Revive Team had a great victory over Ballybofey/Stranorlar. It was a great performance under the very experienced Captain, Eileen Williamson and so exciting with three matches going to 20 holes. Our heartiest congratulations to the team. It was a lucky day for them, despite the date.

More congratulations to the Intermediate team who secured one and a half matches in Donaghadee on Saturday, ably captained by Ann Condon.

On Sunday, the mixed qualifier team captained by Marian Keating and Brendan McGrath in City of Derry, were 4th best qualifiers out of ten. Well done to the five pairings, they now go on to meet City of Derry in Strabane on a date to be announced.

Ladies check the notice board in the ladies locker room for details of the upcoming Three Day Event which takes place from May 24th- 26th (inc).On line booking is as usual available for those who wish to enter the competitions.

Commisserations to the Fred Daly team who lost out to a very good team from Templepatrick on Sunday and to the Mixed Foursomes team who failed to qualify at Castlecoole on the same day.

The competition next weekend will be Single Stroke, sponsored by The

Apartotel, Bundoran.

Letterkenny

Wednesday 11th Open, kindly sponsored by Donaghy Van Centre, was dominated by Cat 4 golfers and none more so than Adrian Mc Clafferty [25] who drove to the top of the podium with a runaway score of 47pts! With a return of eight pars, seven bogeys and three double bogeys, Adrian's consistancy over both nines gave him 23 and 24pts respectively and three points clear of runner-up Kenny Harkin [13] who returned a one over par 37 shots on inward nine for 23pts and a 44pt total. Following in third place, just one point adrift was Pat McGarrigle [26] on 43pts. Gross winner was Don Ponsonby [5] with 31 gross points and visitors' prize was won by Mark Ponsonby [20] with 40pts.

Friday 13th was lucky for Cat 4 member Bryan Harkin [24] who won the Open competition with another fine score of 45pts.

Saturday 14th Open saw the round of the month to date recorded with single figure handicap member and last year's finalist in the All-Ireland Singles Matchplay Championship Brendan Mc Grath recording a magnificent round of 70 gross, two shots under course par. Brendan's eagle at par five 11th helped him to an inward nine of 21pts, an overall 43pts but, more appreciative to a low handicapper of Brendan's calibre, a gross 70 shots. Chipping away at Brendan's score was local voyager Derek Wilson [14] who was second while Peter Muldoon [11] was third on 39pts.

Sunday 15th confined was once again dominated by Cat 4 and was won by the popular Tommy Greally [22] who, despite a 'blank' at the first, still returned 20pts on each nine to relegate Dermot Rainey [19] to second on B.O.T. In third place was Kenneth Chambers [22] on 39pts whilst gross was won by Con Boyce.

Monday evening's Cat 4 competition saw the largest entry to date so far with thirty entrants and coming to the fore over 13 holes played was Jack Mc Garrigle with 33pts followed by Liam Rogers on 30pts defeating Frank Mc Nulty on B.O.T., also on 30pts.

The Murphy Maintenance sponsored Club Matchplay convenor has reminded all entrants that the first round proper of the pairs has to be played by Sunday 22nd, as does the preliminary round of the singles.

Congratulations to the club's Ulster Cup team who retrieved a somewhat impossible situation when they defeated Mayobridge GC by 7 matches to nil at Barnhill on Sunday last, having been 6 matches to 1 down from the first leg. The team now travel to Hollywood, Co. Down, for the next round. Congratulations also to the Mixed Foursomes who qualified to play City of Derry in the first round proper in Strabane and also congratulations to the club's Minor League team who defeated the strong and firm favourite team of Ballybofey by 4 & 1/2 matches to 1/2 in their first round tie.

A reminder that the Friday Open is a stableford competition, Saturday 21st will host the St. Eunan's GAA Club Classic and Sunday 22nd will host Letterkenny club's Golf Shop Open followed on Wednesday 25th by The Kitchen sponsored Open.

Gweedore

Danny Ferry kept his good form going at the weekend when he took the honours in the Central Bar's sponsored competition, Danny shooting 42pts.

In second place was Con Friel with 41pts beating Charlie Cullen on a BOT. This week's nines went to Micheal O' Fearraigh with 21pts and Cathal O'Gallchoir with 21pts. CSS for the Sunday was 39pts.

Two day this weekend

Open day for beginners starting this Friday evening at 6pm for anybody looking to take up the game call down.

With a week of almost tropical weather, golfers turned out in their droves to enjoy the sunshine.

Wednesday's Open Singles was won by Neil Gallagher with 41 points. However, the highlight of the day came from Declan Lynch who had a hole in one at the long par 3 seventh. Declan also managed to finish in second place.

In Saturday's 4BBB, Michael Doyle and Vincent Malone clearly enjoyed the beautiful weather, winning with a score of 38 points. They won by the narrowest of margins from Raymond Shields and Neil Gallagher who also had a score of 38 points but lost out on a BOT.

The Monthly Medal was played on Sunday with one of our juniors taking the honours. Again it took a BOT to separate first and second place. However it was Luke Kelly who beat the unfortunate Colin Higgs, both players coming home with great scores of 64 net. Brendan Kelly won the gross while Frank Kelly was third.

Junior Golf: Carlos O'Reilly was the winner of the Senior Boys Competition this week with a super score of 37 points. For the second week in a row James Sweeney was in second place with 34 points BOT while Conor Hanna was third with the same score.

There was a very exciting finish to the Juvenile Boys Competition with a play-off between Michael Dolan and Lucas Wood. The first play-off hole proved decisive as Michael hit a great seven iron to the front of the green and won not only the competition but also "shot of the day".

In the Cadets Section, Sean McBride won putt of the day on the 15th. Jack Druce won "shot of the day" on the 17th while Caolan McFadden won the race to the bell. However, it was Jack Hanna who was the overall winner with some great shot making.

Hickey Clarke and Langan Ladies & Gents Open on Saturday 21st May; Gents Open Single Stableford on Sunday 22nd May.

Portsalon

Scramble With A Twist: Fancy a bit of fun and a game of golf? Look no further as Portsalon Golf Club have arranged an open Scramble with a Twist on Saturday, 28th May. Team of 4, entry €80 any combination/handicaps. Inclusive in your entry will be a very tasty Barbacue.

Call the clubhouse to reserve a tee time.

The fun does not end there as there will be A Night at the Races in the clubhouse from 9 pm onwards. The event is kindly sponsored by MCR Group

As the course is booked all day on Sunday for the GUI qualifying event, Frank Casey Jnr has very kindly arranged for a special Portsalon ladies and gents members competition at the Rosapenna Golf Resort on the Sandy Hills course. Entry fee will be €10 which includes 2’s club (please bring proof of membership i.e. GUI card or other documentation) A timesheet will be in operation, for further information and to record your tee time please contact The Pavillion Golf Club on 0749155000. The Captain John Logue and the Portsalon members would like to express their thanks to Frank for this very kind and generous gesture.

Fixtures: On Saturday 21st it's a gents open competition. On Sunday the GUI qualifying event. On Wednesday, 25th May, there will be a a gents open competition.

Club Teams: The Ulster Cup team travelled to Ballymena golf club for the return leg and came away victorious with 10 and half matches to 3 and half matches. Portsalon's next opponents will be Portadown Golf Cub. In the mixed foursomes qualifying at the City of Derry golf club on Sunday last Portsalon missed out on qualifying by a slender 3 points .In the return leg of the Ulster Fourball Portsalon entertained Enniskillen in the return leg match and the result went to the Fermanagh men.

The Portsalon Pierce Purcell team will play North West Golf Club at Dunfanaghy Golf Club on Saturday next.

Donegal

On Sunday last 111 members choose to play the longest links course in

Ireland. Donegal Golf Course of the Blue sticks measures 7458 yards,

(The Palmer course at the K Club, venue of the Irish Open, is a mere

7,350yards long). On the day, Kevin Fallon tamed the Monster by shooting

The Mighty Mixed Foursomes Team with Captain Dorothy Woods, acquitted themselves well at the qualifying in Enniskillen, but with only 4 places up for grabs, fifth just wasn't enough.

Donegal

(Continued from page 64).

The Fred Daly Team managed to

secure a solid victory against Portstewart on Saturday and progress to the next round of the Fred Daly Cup. This is further than any junior

team has gone before in the Cup so well done lads. The Ulster Cup team

are still alive and well and play their next round away against Greenacres G.C. on Sunday 29th. Good Luck.

This Friday our Vice-Capt John McHardy has organised a Three-Ball

Scramble in aid of Breast & Prostrate cancer, teams of three men. ladies

or mixed are welcome to take part.

Next Sunday's competition is the Damien Wilson Memorial sponsored by

Footsteps.

The Open Days continue every Wednesday until end of June.

Rosapenna

The Holmpatrick Cup qualifier (4BBB) played on Saturday over the Sandy Hills Links was won by Mick Gallagher Jnr & Garvin Toye with 43pts. They will now represent Rosapenna in the county final.

The gents singles stroke played over the Old Tom Morris Links on Sunday was won by Johnny Connor (18) with 68 nett, the runner up was Brendan Roach Snr (28) with 69 nett and third place was Seamus Herraghty (10) with 73 nett. Two's - Seimi McBride €38.

Team Golf: Congratulations to our Mixed Foursomes team captained by Terri McBride and Peter Smyth who qualified in third place at City of Derry GC last Sunday. Rosapenna will now play Foyle back in City of Derry on or before Monday June 6th.

Well done to our Ulster Cup team who beat Banbridge G.C 7.5-6.5 last weekend. Rosapenna travelled to Banbridge on Saturday and won 2.5 matches from 7 and then hosted Banbridge on Sunday winning the 5 points required to advance to the third round.

Rosapenna will now play Warrenpoint (away) in the third round with both legs to be completed on or before Monday, June 13th.

Well done to playing captain Denis Harkin and to his panel of players.

Best wishes to our Jimmy Bruen team captained by Pete McBride Jnr who take on Narin & Portnoo in Letterkenny at 3.40pm this Sunday in the first round matchplay.

Good luck to the Pierce Purcell team captained by Paul Travers who face Letterkenny in Dunfanaghy at 3pm on Sunday in the first round matchplay.

Good luck to our Irish Senior Cup team captained by Frank Casey Jnr for the qualifying round which takes place this coming Sunday at Portsalon. Rosapenna tee off at 9.20am alongside City of Derry and Strabane.

Rosapenna Ladies

The club competition on Saturday over the Old Tom Morris Links was won by Sheila Breen (12) with 34 points (BOT), second was Janet McIver (36) with 34 points, the first nine was won by Mary Devlin (28) with 18 points and the second nine by Eileen Magill (15) with 17 points.

The inaugural Past Lady Captain's Cup, sponsored by the 2002 Lady Captain Mrs Agnes Lenny, will be held on Friday.

The past lady captains will compete in a stableford competition

over the Old Tom Morris Links in the afternoon followed by dinner in the Vardon Restaurant at the

Rosapenna Hotel and prize giving in the evening.

Ladies Open Singles Stableford on Friday 24th June, €30 per player including tea/coffee on arrival and a meal served between 5.30-8.30pm. Time sheet in operation contact The Pavilion Golf Shop on 074-915-5000.

Drum Bar Golf Society

There was some fantastic scoring as the Drum Bar Golf Society took to the beautiful fairways of Dunfanaghy Golf Club last Saturday.

There was another fantastic turn-out of members - 27 played - and the members would like to thank Mary and everyone at Dunfanaghy GC for their kindness.

The winner of the competition was Paul Dolan who carded his best score of the year with 40 points.

Paul's practice around his home club of Ballybofey and Stranorlar is certainly paying dividends. He's just enough to beat Columba Crawford (2nd) and Damien Judge (3rd). Both had 37 points with Columba finishing 2nd on a break of tie.

Our secretary, Mary Rose Dullaghan, was the impressive winner of the ladies prize.

The competition is open to all past pupils and teachers who will compete for the Alumni Trophy. Charlie Collins will defend the Trophy he won in 2014.

Unfortunately, last year's competition fell victim to the weather and all are looking forward to better fortunes this time. Once again Michael Mc Ginley is on board as the main sponsor in both the Alumni and the visitors section.

St. Eunan’s College welcomes all visitors to the event and both Gents and Ladies sections have great prizes as well. Greg Cullen will sponsor the St. Eunan’s College youth Alumni which starts off at 5 .15pm also on Saturday. The Yellow Pepper has kindly offered a voucher of 500 euro in the Adult competition for a hole in one at any par 3 on the day. The fee is €20 for all adult players in aid of the Sports Fund in the College.

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